NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Deutsche Telekom AG (DTEGY) is willing to keep a small stake in T-Mobile (TMUS) if a deal with Softbank Corp (SFTBY) for the purchase of the controlling stake of the telecom company goes through, according to a report in Reuters this afternoon.

Deutche Telekom currently owns 67% of T-Mobile, the fourth largest cell phone carrier in the country, and is in talks to sell the majority of its stake to Softbank, according to industry reports.

Softbank owns Sprint (S) -- the third largest carrier in the country -- and any deal combining the two companies could potentially face stiff opposition from government regulators.